468: None of them could withstand my second move.

At the core of the Trapped Beast Formation, Star Swallower, which had been silent and with eyes closed, suddenly opened its eyes the moment Song Ruyu and Zhang Ruyi stepped into the formation.

In those eyes, deep as a sea of stars, a cold and resolute light flashed for an instant, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, carrying an undeniable sense of finality.

In the distance, the roars of battle from the Giant Beast Alliance were incessant, and the sounds of space shattering and energy colliding came in waves like the tide.

Every sound was like a heavy hammer, slamming fiercely into Star Swallower's heart.

Its long-held persistence, its anticipation through countless ages, seemed to be completely crushed at this moment; hope flickered like a spark, eventually sinking into dead silence.

It could not help but recall, many years ago in that unknown Secret Realm, the mysterious person it had encountered.

That person stood in the gaps of time, speaking calmly yet like the edicts of the Heavenly Dao, still echoing clearly in the depths of Star Swallower's consciousness to this day:

"The homeland of your Starry Sky Giant Beast Clan is not here. You have a mission to lead them away from this cage."

Since returning from the Secret Realm, Star Swallower had been obsessed, traveling across the vast Cosmic Battlefield, searching for scattered kin.

After endless ages, it finally gathered the last of the Starry Sky Giant Beast under its command, establishing the Giant Beast Alliance, becoming each other's final reliance.

And its cultivation also climbed to the Peak of the Hongmeng Realm step by step during this long journey.

Just one line away, just the final step—if it could Breakthrough to the Supreme Realm, it would be able to tear through the shackles of this world and lead its clansmen on the journey home.

But now, all efforts had been ground to dust.

The last hope, at the moment Song Ruyu and Zhang Ruyi stepped into the formation, completely collapsed.

Star Swallower stared at the two, its eyes no longer holding confusion or hesitation, only hatred like a burning galaxy, unmasked and surging forth.

Song Jinyu and Zhang Ruyi knew the situation was critical; the two dared not separate for a moment, for only by relying on each other did they have a sliver of survival, after all, the enemy before them was the legendary Old Ancestor Star Swallower.

Upon entering this vast formation, the two stood shoulder to shoulder, their Auras connected, their gazes like torches, tightly locked onto the Star Swallower ahead, determined to face this powerful enemy together.

Star Swallower looked down coldly, a mocking smile curling at the corner of its mouth, its voice filled with disdain and mockery: "What? Finally couldn't help it, and decided to do it yourself?"

Song Jinyu did not answer, a cold light flashed in his eyes, his figure moved suddenly, and his fierce offensive attacked Star Swallower like a violent storm.

Zhang Ruyi also had a tacit understanding, following without hesitation, his Moves continuous, coordinating perfectly with him.

The two joined forces, one hard and one soft, one advancing and one defending, two against one, but the three's cultivation Realms were originally on par.

Star Swallower, as a member of the Starry Sky Giant Beast Clan, was born with a strong Physical Body, and its combat power far exceeded those of the same rank, but after repeated fierce battles, it was already at the end of its rope, and its Aura was not as it had been before.

Therefore, as soon as they fought, Star Swallower fell into a passive position, struggling to parry, in a difficult situation.

However, Song Jinyu and Zhang Ruyi felt no relief—they were constantly worried about the loss of contact with their other three companions, anxious and unable to maneuver calmly.

The two simultaneously adopted a desperate fighting style, every Move fierce and deadly, disregarding their own consumption, seeking only to slay Star Swallower at the fastest speed, completely eliminating this great threat to avoid further complications.

Star Swallower was always looking for a chance to fight to the death, but Song Jinyu and Zhang Ruyi cooperated seamlessly, acting as each other's support, with almost no flaws in their offense and defense.

This meant that even though Star Swallower held a will to die and repeatedly tried to burst out, it was always tightly suppressed by the duo's combined force, unable to even capture a single effective counterattack opportunity.

The battle lasted for a long time, Star Swallower's physical strength and Qi were almost exhausted, the light around its body was dim, and it had reached the point of exhaustion.

Even so, it still failed to find an opportunity to turn the situation around.

Just at the moment when Star Swallower was devastated and completely desperate, even preparing to trigger the remaining power in its body to choose self-detonation and perish with the enemy, a clear and smiling voice suddenly sounded from the Void Realm: "Master, your combat power... isn't that great, is it?"

The speaker was none other than Xun Xiuyuan. Although he was only Star Swallower's Named Disciple in name, he called this "Master" very naturally, his tone carrying a bit of banter and composure.

This sudden teasing not only stunned Star Swallower for a moment, but even Song Jinyu and Zhang Ruyi, who had been pressing step by step, were also stunned, unable to react for a moment.

It was because they were currently within the coverage of the "Trapped Beast Formation", this formation was mysterious and almost completely isolated the inside from the outside; logically, it was impossible to be perceived from the outside, let alone have a voice transmitted into the formation.

However, Xun Xiuyuan's voice echoed clearly in the formation, as if he were standing right next to the three.

Before Song and Zhang could figure out the key to this, a figure gradually solidified next to Star Swallower's huge body—it was Xun Xiuyuan appearing quietly.

Although his figure was far from the towering state of the Star Swallower, and his height did not even reach the latter's toes, the Aura radiating from his whole body was as vast as the sea and unfathomable, actually making Song Jinyu and Zhang Ruyi feel a chill in their hearts, secretly suspicious.

At this time, Star Swallower could not even manage to transform into human form, and could only weakly make a sound, urgently saying: "Quick... go to the Giant Beast Alliance, those children... are in danger!"

Xun Xiuyuan, however, was unhurried, his figure floating lightly until he was level with Star Swallower's giant eyes.

He stretched out a hand, palm up, holding up a phantom world with flowing light and shadow.

In the projection of that Small World, it was clearly visible that countless Starry Sky Giant Beasts were resting peacefully and moving freely.

Star Swallower's giant eyes stared for a moment, finally seeing the scene inside, a flash of relief and gratification appeared in its eyes, and then it wearily closed its eyes.

At the same time, an extremely weak, yet emotionally complex sound transmission was gently sent into Xun Xiuyuan's Divine Sense: "Xun Xiuyuan... Fellow Daoist, thank you!" The voice gradually faded, and Star Swallower fell into complete silence, with no further movement.

Song Jinyu and Zhang Ruyi exchanged a solemn look, both reading deep suspicion and vigilance in each other's eyes.

Song Jinyu broke the silence first, his voice cold and questioning: "Where are our three companions now?"

The earth-shattering battle previously stirred up by the Giant Beast Alliance, and the news of three successive Hongmeng Realm Experts losing contact, had long made Song Jinyu alert.

At this moment, facing this imposing Great Saint Realm Human Race Cultivator before him, he almost subconsciously linked these events together.

Xun Xiuyuan heard this, a look of undisguised contempt appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he sneered: "You mean those three Hongmeng Realm? Simply vulnerable. One person, one slash, none of them could take my second Move."

His words were not empty talk.

Those three Hongmeng Realm Cultivators faced Xun Xiuyuan's overbearing "Heaven Piercing Slash" and were simply unable to resist, falling one after another in the blink of an eye—they were not like Ye Mao who was known for defense, they couldn't even manage to parry.